Backing up important data is the best way to ensure that you will not lose it forever. If you fail to create a backup and you accidentally delete your files, there is another solution you can try. Recovery utilities can be used to salvage lost data. They will scan the hard drive's surface and locate files that are deleted. IST Data Recovery provides you with more than one solution for restoring deleted data. Besides a standard scan, for erased files, it can look for files that were lost during a format and it can recover raw data as well.

It will only take a few seconds to install the utility on your computer. The setup wizard features only basic options and the installation process itself is very fast. IST Data Recovery works with various Windows versions, different file systems, including FAT12, 16, 32, exFAT, NTFS or NTFS5 and it can recover data from removable devices as well.

The software can perform three types of recoveries. If you choose "Deleted Recovery" you will be able to restore all types of deleted files. The Formatted Recovery feature supports all types of files as well and it will recover files from formatted volumes. Finally, the Raw Recovery function will restore files without any system structure information. The functions can be accessed separately, by clicking the interface's navigation tabs. Alternatively, you can start them immediately from the software's Overview page.

The application's recovery modes feature similar options. You will have to select a disk partition, on the left half of the interface and make a series of adjustments on the right half. When recovering files, you can set the program to scan for everything or to look for specific files, like documents, videos, music, pictures, all or part of a file's name. For a more effective process, you may specify when the files were deleted.

Before starting the Formatted Recovery feature, you can specify the selected partition's start and end sectors. It may sound complicated, but it is not mandatory. When you select a partition, the values will be inserted automatically. It is also possible to select a cluster size and specify values for a start and a root cluster. If you plan to use the program's Raw Recovery function, you will not have to make any settings. Instead, you must select one or more file extensions or add your own. All extensions are selected by default, so this task is optional.

Pros: The software can recover deleted files, regardless of their format. It features separate functions for deleted files, formatted partitions and more. It lets you scan for all types of files or specific ones. Using these functions requires nothing more than clicking a few buttons and check boxes.

Cons: You can find deleted files, but you can not recover them with the trial version.

Any damage or deleted file can be recovered with IST Data Recovery. It features straightforward functions, so it can be used even by beginners.

Frederick is a software review editor at FindMySoft. From gadgets to software.You can follow him on Google+,
Facebook or Twitter

IST Data Recovery Awards

IST Data Recovery Editor's Review Rating

IST Data Recovery has been reviewed by Frederick Barton on
25 May 2012. Based on the user interface, features and complexity, Findmysoft has rated
IST Data Recovery 5
out of 5 stars, naming it Essential